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If you—or someone you love—are living with Parkinson’s, simple movements like walking or reaching can start to feel challenging. But what if you could swap shaky ground for… a pool?

At Ability Fix, we think water is kind of magical. And science backs us up: aquatherapy (a.k.a. aquatic therapy or hydrotherapy) uses the unique powers of water—buoyancy, resistance and warmth—to support people with Parkinson’s.

 Here’s why you might want to dip a toe in:

Why Water Works Wonders

• Less Gravity, More Freedom: Water’s buoyancy lifts you up, taking pressure off sore joints and muscles. It also supports you in all three dimensions. Suddenly movements feel easier, safer, and way less painful.
• Soothing Warmth: Warm water helps relax tense muscles and can even calm those annoying tremors that show up uninvited.
• Confidence-Boosting: In the pool, you can practice steps and stretches without fear of falling. Balance improves, self-esteem gets a lift, and even the risk of injury drops.
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• Better Mobility: Water lets you move in bigger, more fluid ways. That means regaining strength, flexibility, and freedom for those everyday activities on dry land.
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• Proven Results: Doctors and therapists recommend aquatherapy for managing symptoms, improving balance, and helping folks enjoy a better quality of life. 
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The Science Says… Jump In!

Research shows that aquatherapy can improve balance, strength, and motor skills for people with Parkinson’s as well as (or sometimes even better than) land-based exercises. Many of our pool-goers say they feel lighter, more in control, and less anxious in the water—which helps them stick with exercise and keep on moving.

How to get started with Ability Fix:

Download the app from the Play Store on Android or the App Store on iOS.

Take our ability level assessment on the Ability Fix app—we’ll help match you with the right aquatic exercises for your needs and goals.

Try Ability Level 1 or 2 movements: Our coaches have developed exercises that can guide you through safe stretches, balance drills, and strength moves designed especially for Parkinson’s.

Stay safe & supported: You may want to check in with your healthcare provider before you start something new. And remember, our community is here to cheer you on, every splash of the way!

Dive into aquatherapy. Move better, feel stronger, and rediscover the joy of movement—one splash at a time!

Feeling Like Your Back’s Unraveling? Meet the Multifidus

If you’ve ever suffered from low back pain, you’re not alone—and you may not realize there’s a small but mighty muscle playing a huge role behind the scenes: the multifidus. This deep spinal stabilizer runs along your vertebrae, firing up just before you move to keep your spine aligned, supported, and happy. When the multifidus weakens or gets “shut off” by pain or injury, your back loses its stabilizing crew—and trouble begins.

Multifidus dysfunction often leads to micro-instability, irritation, and even chronic pain—the sort that lingers despite the best stretches, massages, or ergonomic chairs. Over time, these deep muscles shrink (atrophy), get replaced by fat, and let the bigger, surface muscles take over. But here’s the irony: the big muscles are built for movement, not micromanagement—meaning they do a sloppy job supporting each vertebra, which can amplify your pain.

Why Water Makes a Splash in Spinal Rehab

Aquatic exercise isn’t just about gentle movement or “old school” rehab. It’s a science-backed powerhouse for reactivating the multifidus and restoring true spinal stability. Here’s why the pool is your back’s best friend:

Buoyancy means less load: Chest-deep in water, your spine bears up to 70% less weight—the perfect setup for pain-free practice.

Constant micro-resistance: Water’s 360° resistance gently forces your multifidus and core to work—every movement, even the smallest adjustment, becomes an opportunity for spinal muscles to fire.

Reduced pain, better results: Studies show aquatic exercise matches or exceeds multifidus activation seen on land—with participants reporting much less pain and higher confidence.

EMG studies support that when you hold a plank, perform bird-dogs, or balance on one leg in the pool, your multifidus “wakes up” and gets stronger. Over 6–12 weeks, these changes are visible under ultrasound, with increased muscle size and strength—and, best of all, less back pain.

Top Aquatic Moves for Multifidus Strength:

River Planks: Hold a plank on a submerged step; resisting water currents trains deep spinal muscles.

Aqua Bird-Dogs: In all-fours position, slowly raise opposite arm and leg; add a float or paddle for a dynamic challenge.

Single-Leg Balance: Stand on one foot, using the water’s resistance to challenge and activate stabilizers.

Could Aquatic Rehab Help You Avoid Spinal Cord Stimulation?

For some, chronic back pain gets bad enough to consider advanced treatments—like Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS), which uses implanted devices to mask pain signals. But not everyone wants surgery or hardware. The good news: consistent aquatic therapy can offer dramatic improvements for many patients, sometimes making invasive options unnecessary.

Research from leaders like Dr. Vinny Francio and major pain centers highlights this “prehab” approach: many patients trial aquatic therapy and report 30–50% pain reduction in a month—with improved sleep, less stiffness, and better movement. This not only buys time to avoid or delay SCS, but ensures that if a device is needed, the patient is stronger and recovers faster.

Aquatic Benefits Ripple to Hips and Knees

Don’t stop at the back—the pool works wonders for the whole body. Pelvic and knee pain often stem from similar issues: weak deep stabilizers (like the popliteus at the knee or hip rotators). Water exercises such as lunges, step-overs, and resisted side-walks activate these underappreciated muscles, improving balance and reducing the risk of falls or joint injury.

For those with osteoarthritis or joint replacements, aquatic workouts mean:

More reps with less pain: Water reduces impact, letting you move longer for better strength gains.

Sharper proprioception: The resistance boosts your joint’s “GPS,” improving control and confidence.

Faster recovery after surgery or flare-ups: Regular aquatic sessions ease swelling and get muscles firing safely.

Beyond the Muscles—Why Water Eases Pain and Lifts Spirits

Science supports what every aquatic therapist knows: the pool is magic for pain relief, not just because of movement, but because of how water interacts with your body and brain:

Skin-level stimulation will “gate” pain signals, meaning warm water and gentle pressure overwhelm your nerves so pain can’t get through as easily.

Natural endorphin release, leaving you with a “pool after-glow” that lasts for hours.

Less guarding, more freedom: Buoyancy means less fear of movement, turning off those painful spasms that clamp down around your spine.

Patients consistently report better mood, easier transitions, and a window of relief after each pool session. For those tired of being sidelined by pain, the pool offers not just physical therapy—but renewed confidence and hope.

Your Takeaway: Don’t Wait for Surgery—Make Waves

If you or your clients are struggling with stubborn back, hip, or knee pain, consider an aquatic regimen focused on reactivating your multifidus and deep stabilizers. Not only is it gentle and accessible, but it’s also scientifically proven—and might be the key to bypassing more invasive treatments.

Want a place to start? Ability Fix is here with tailored aquatic workouts for all levels. Our habit-based plans and easy-to-follow routines can transform your core strength, support your joints, and help you move through life pain-free.

Ready to reclaim your back (and your future)? Jump in—the water’s fine!

Anyone who has been through a Medically Supervised Exercise Program will likely tell you that they achieved great success while they were in the program. Physical Therapy and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation are two common examples of these programs. Patients are ofter referred to them after sustaining a serious injury, undergoing surgery or addressing a chronic condition where their functional capacity is severely diminished. The most common issue with these programs is patient compliance with home exercise and continuation of exercise plans once program is completed.

As a health practitioner, it’s extremely frustrating to see your patient’s make large improvements in their health and then see their gains erased due to lack of compliance with their continuing exercise plans. This ofter happens because people need reinforcement to encourage them to continue. Often people benefit greatly from the community and social aspect of Physical Therapy and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation. An easy solution to ensure continued success after completion of either of these programs is to encourage patients to join a group fitness class comprised of individuals who have gone through similar experiences. Some local hospitals and community centers offer programs that are specifically designed for people with these types of health issues. Health practitioners should be aware of these programs and encourage their patients to join them several weeks before their treatment has concluded to ensure a smooth transition to exercising on their own.

For more tech savvy patients, health practitioners should encourage continuing exercise plans through apps and web-based programs that have robust social communities. Strava is an example of a running and cycling based app that has an excellent social sharing platform. Recreational athletes have the ability to follow, challenge and encourage one another which directly leads to increased compliance. Ability Fix is another great example of an application that encourages social interaction and sharing for aquatic exercisers. They also offer a robust video library where you can learn aquatic exercises specifically tailored to each users ability and fitness level. Modern day health practitioners have a responsibility to leverage these types of technologies to encourage their patients to continue with their exercise programs.

If you're a patient in a Medical Exercise Program be sure that you inquire about local recourses prior to ending treatment. Also don’t be afraid to ask about apps, websites and other technology based solutions that encourage a variety of exercises. Remember, you worked hard to achieve all of your health improvements and you need to leverage every resource you can to keep them.

About Ability Fix

Regardless of your current physical ability level, Ability Fix offers customized water aerobics classes to help you reach your goals. The award-winning app is the ultimate companion for your water aerobics regimen and guides you through a series of aquatic exercises to help improve your balance, strength, flexibility, and cardio. Whether you’re seeking a low-impact way to help improve your mobility or need a high-intensity cardio burn, Ability Fix is for you. The app works with a variety of devices, including laptops, tablets, smartphones, and smart TVs. Optional waterproof Bluetooth headphones allow you to listen to instructions for the exercises. With 50 water aerobics exercises and three Ai Chi routines launching at the start of 2020, Ability Fix is ready to help you create the ideal water aerobics routine for your needs. 

For more information about Ability Fix, visit www.abilityfix.com